Chapter 91: Shadow Demon

"Toji! You can't leave the family!"

The moment Toji released his pressure and revealed his strength, Naobito immediately realized his intentions.

Toji wanted to leave. Now that he had made his decision, he no longer bothered to suppress his power.

Zenin Naobito and Ogi activated their techniques simultaneously, trying to stop Toji from escaping.

However, the next moment, something even more shocking occurred.

The Zenin estate vanished into the shadows right before their eyes.

Just as the two launched their techniques, Toji had already begun chanting the words of Katen Kyōkotsu's shikai.

"Flower Wind Rage and Flower God Roar, Heavenly Wind Rage and Heavenly Demon Sneer. "

Toji unleashed the shadow demon ability of Katen Kyōkotsu.

This time, he had no intention of relying on brute force to subdue Naobito and Ogi.

He wanted them to witness firsthand that the shadow techniques the Zenin family had long coveted could be mastered by a so-called "useless" man without cursed energy, through his Zanpakutō, Katen Kyōkotsu!

And just like that, Toji disappeared into the shadows.

This scene completely shattered Naobito and Ogi's understanding of the world. They couldn't comprehend how someone without cursed energy or jujutsu could vanish into thin air.

But the next moment, realization dawned upon them.

Toji didn't have cursed techniques.

But he had a Zanpakutō.

And he could use its abilities.

So… was this Zanpakutō's ability to erase its wielder's presence?

Such thoughts flashed through Naobito and Ogi's minds—until pain abruptly shot through their bodies.

"Watch your shadows!"

Toji's voice rang out, and both men's faces twisted in alarm as the stabbing sensation in their abdomens became real.

Two black, curved blades emerged from their stomachs.

These two elite sorcerers of the Zenin family had never imagined they would be defeated by a man without cursed energy.

They instinctively turned their heads and the sight before them left them in utter disbelief.

Toji stepped out from within their very shadows, gripping two black scimitars, one long, one short, each blade buried deep into their silhouettes cast upon the ground.

The wounds in their shadows mirrored the wounds on their actual bodies.

—What kind of shadow technique is this?!

Shadow techniques held a place of supreme importance within the Zenin clan. Any sorcery related to shadows was considered a legacy skill of immense value.

Zenin Shinsuke was a prime example.

Yet neither Naobito nor Ogi had ever expected Toji to wield shadow abilities.

Even if the source of his power came from his Zanpakutō, it was still undeniably a true shadow technique.

And they had just been defeated by it.

By someone with zero cursed energy.

By someone they had once deemed worthless.

"How does it feel to be attacked by your own shadow?"

"What did you expect from your so-called sacred shadow techniques? To be passed down through generations? To be the pride of the Zenin clan?"

"The stench of decay."

Toji yanked Katen Kyōkotsu free from the ground, and both Naobito and Ogi felt their strength rapidly draining.

Yet physical pain was not the worst of their suffering.

The real agony came from the humiliation.

They had been defeated by the very thing the Zenin family took the most pride in.

They were both First-Grade Sorcerers, yet they had lost to a man without cursed energy.

And worse still, they had lost to a Zanpakutō's technique.

What was the name of this sword again?

Katen Kyōkotsu?

A terrifying thought crept into Ogi's mind.

This Zanpakutō seemed as though it was meant for the Zenin clan.

This kind of ghostly shadow technique should have belonged to them.

Yet, unfortunately, Toji had already proven that he was the true strongest of the Zenin family.

Even without cursed energy.

Even without jujutsu.

With his Zanpakutō, he had crushed them all.

On the sidelines, Zenin Shinsuke and Jinichi stood frozen, their mouths agape, unable to process what they had just witnessed.

They had already sensed Toji's overwhelming presence earlier and knew he was strong.

But they had never expected that even Naobito and Ogi would be powerless against him.

The sight of Toji standing there, gripping two black scimitars, had been seared into their memories.

Was this the true power of a Zanpakutō?

Was this the Zanpakutō that Gojo Satoshi had forged for Toji?

Was this a Zanpakutō that embodied the very essence of the Zenin clan's shadow techniques?

Toji had only used one ability—yet he had effortlessly crushed Naobito and Ogi.

As a bystander, Shinsuke could tell that Toji's raw physical strength had played a crucial role in this battle.

But the combination of an inhumanly strong body and a shadow-based Zanpakutō technique had elevated Toji to a level that ordinary people could never hope to reach.

And most importantly.

If Gojo Satoshi had forged this Zanpakutō, then it must have other abilities.

A single technique had already rendered the Zenin clan's elites powerless.

What other abilities did Katen Kyōkotsu possess?

A surge of desire flared within Zenin Shinsuke's heart.

He wanted a Zanpakutō.

If a sorcerer could obtain one, it would be an unparalleled trump card.

A weapon that doubled their strength.

But forging a Zanpakutō of this caliber was beyond comprehension. Unless one was a close ally of Gojo Satoshi, there was no chance of obtaining one.

Why had Toji been chosen?

Was it because of his Heavenly Restriction?

Shinsuke felt a surge of jealousy.

But right now, he was powerless to do anything.

The sight of Naobito and Ogi lying defeated had left him utterly shaken.

For the first time, Shinsuke truly understood.

He was not Toji's equal.

He thought back to the moment when Satoshi had left him behind and had instead gone to personally greet Toji.

A bitter sense of frustration welled up within him.

Had Gojo Satoshi already known how extraordinary Toji was back then?

Was that why he had been so indifferent toward everyone else?

…What terrifying foresight.

Shinsuke could only watch as Toji quietly packed his belongings.

Watched as Toji walked out of the Zenin estate.

And left.

Shinsuke and Jinichi finally snapped out of their daze.

Shinsuke fell silent.

Jinichi forced himself to suppress his excitement as he hurriedly ordered people to tend to Naobito and Ogi's injuries.

My opportunity has arrived. For that, I must thank you, Brother.

(To be continued.)

***

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